all hail my camera fairy!

Remember when I told you that something not so good happened to my camera a few months ago?

Soon thereafter a fellow blogger with whom I've shared quite a few email exchanges started asking funny questions..."What kind of camera were you thinking of getting?" and the like.

Turns out that my truck-driving, photo-taking, toenail-painting blogging buddy Salena from The Daily Rant had just bought herself a new camera and had the "old" one just sitting on a shelf, hoping and pleading to go to a nice home.

And Salena thought that nice home could be mine. Can you believe it?

I couldn't either, and yet my new toy arrived yesterday. Via the Italian postal service. And I didn't even have to pay customs.

To be perfectly clear, the idea of her donating the camera to a good cause (me) came up on September 11. A couple weeks later, Salena mailed it to my mom in Pennsylvania, my mom then mailed it to me, and I was holding it yesterday, October 15...and just in time for my birthday (Thursday) to boot!

This may not mean a lot to those of you who haven't dealt with Poste Italiane, but trust me--this is nothing short of a flipping shipping miracle. I don't know what other fairies are on my side other than my Camery Fairy Salena, but I like them. I like them a lot.

And I *love* the camera. LOVE THE CAMERA.

It's a Canon PowerShot S1 IS, and my Camera Fairy also threw in a special Macro lens (that I have yet to play with) and a 1 GB memory card.

I am so beside myself with glee, appreciation, and excitement, I thought I'd share some of the first photos I took with the new camera.

Here's a morning shot from my balcony:

This is the opposite side of the village, taken a few minutes later
while on my morning walk with the dogs:

And here is proof that my roses are still blooming:

And finally, on Puppy Watch, Stella growled at me this morning when I went near her box, so I think we're getting close! Can't you see the concern in her eyes?

I didn't do anything to touch up these photos so you'd be able to see what the camera does all on its own. I've already discovered that the zoom on this thing is amazing compared to my old camera--all the photos above except for the rose were taken on zoom. Incredible if you saw what my old camera used to do with a zoomed photo!

Now I implore you--go to The Daily Rant, check out Salena's fabulous photos (doesn't matter which camera she's using, obviously, as they're always wonderful), and read about her fascinating life on the road in an 18-wheeler with her boyfriend Eddie; also be sure to check out Due Amici Designs for gorgeous, unique custom made cards.

Please go show my Camera Fairy some blog love, and thank her again for me.

Grazie mille Salena!